Let There Be Lights!

As you've long-known if you're a regular around these parts, upgrading the builder-standard-brass lighting in our house is an on-going project. One, because I'm picky, and two, because dude: Lights are expensive!

I've hit a couple of stellar sales recently, and that's added up to three new fixtures stacking up.

No, really: Stacking up.

We took a Saturday and tackled 'em all, including re-purposing one fixture already in place to another room. You know how I love to work with what I've got!

We'll start with that one, actually. Our dim and depressing (and brass, of course) master closet light has been on the fritz for months. When the last bulb keeled over, we went to replace it and, lo and behold, the protective tinfoil-like covering over the fixture's insulation had disintegrated. Nice. Being fools, we decided to put in new bulbs anyway and just leave the glass cover off in case it was too hot (you all remember what happened when we replaced standard bulbs with energy efficient ones). Well, it didn't work. And by didn't work, I mean listen to this video:

We stopped using the light entirely. Better to find clothes in the semi-dark than burn the house down, eh? Logic.

So since one of the new fixtures was destined for the family room, down came the quickly-purchased-when-moving-in fixture from that room, and in it went in the closet.

That left the family room ceiling open for a little makeover:

Next, upstairs to the two bedrooms. Since you now know about The Babe on his or her way, I can tell you that the current guest room will become the baby's room, and that leaves the husband's man room to be both man and guest space. That means we have some work to do in both rooms, so a little lighting upgrade seemed like a good first step. Two oil-rubbed-bronze finish fixtures were just the thing - Not too matchy, but nicely coordinated since you can see into both rooms from the hallway.

Man/Guest

Baby J's domain

Like what you see?
Master Closet: similar
Family Room: Home Depot
Baby Room: similar pendant version, or apparently make your own.
Man/Guest Room: similar, ours is from Home Depot but not available online.

I'm sure our neighbors think we're the new Amnityville Horror in the cul-de-sac since I keep standing in doorways flipping lights off and on... We have some ceiling paint touch-ups to do, but really, such an easy upgrade, and so happy it's done! Well, in those rooms anyway. There's always the halls... and the entryway... and the floor lamps... and.... Sorry hubs.

Random Round Up: Floats and Cones

Anyone else having a rough time getting up and going this week? Welp, better Tuesday than never.

This kiddo lost a toenail (it was brutal) and won a trip to the puppy ER.

We had to upgrade our fan - AGAIN. Sprung for a little more $$ and a warranty this time.

My work treat for 2015: A Brittany Fusan planner.

Adventures in trying to like beer: A Split-Shot and coconut milk ice cream float.

Our li'l cousin was a little nervous about the Hawks game on Saturday.

Have a happy week!

Shrapnel

Weird happening last night: Our hallway light, in use constantly, decided to spontaneously explode.
A loud pop, and then the rain of shrapnel onto the hard floor. Luckily none of us were near enough to take a hit (although Tucker was really close and almost had a heart attack, poor guy).

We recently changed the lightbulbs, but other than that, nothing out of the ordinary. My thought was the bulbs were too strong, but they weren't extra hot to the touch or anything when we investigated. Has this ever happened to you? Tell me in the comments if you know what caused it.

...No crying over shattered boob-light for me though. Now that three out of the seven in the house are gone (one down to bare bulbs when we moved in, one smashed, and now this), I think it might be time to start searching for replacements. I mean, I can classify them as like a safety hazard or something now, right? Yay!

Pristine Aubergine

Remember the ugly light fixture from our dining room that I couldn't wait to ship off to Goodwill?

Well, I guess this is proof positive that if something sits in your garage long enough it can become useful again. I've been wanting a new, fun fixture for my someday-sewing room, and it struck me: That perfectly ugly but perfectly functional hunk of glass and gold in the garage could be made over.

 First things first: Pick a color, disassemble (get rid of that giant glass hood!!), prep (i.e. light sanding and a wipe-down), and paint.

 Painting came in a few sessions as it was a 360° job. Once dry, power off and up she went (Nate's becoming a pro at fixture hanging and wiring these days).

The quality of light is roughly a bazillion times better than with the old "boob light" (look at it... that's what it is), and I can't get over how much more personalized the whole room seems already.

Someday you'll get to see the rest... I just have to clear a path first. After all, it's only been a year since we moved in...... cringe. In the meantime: Hooray for mini-makeovers and free upgrades!

What do you think, can you believe this is the same light? I do love a makeover.

P.S. If you noticed some gold peeking out at the top of the fixture in that second-to-last photo: Yes, some of the aubergine paint was knocked off during the wrestling with the chain hanging process. Touch ups will happen with a little paint in a cup and a brush. It's high enough that as long as it's the same color, no one should notice a different application method.

Update in a Can

I have some spray painting plans this weekend - My favorite kind of quick-yet-transformative makeover project. Care for a preview?

Stay tuned - Hopefully positive results to share next week!

All Aglow

One of the first things I said during the initial walk-through of what was to be our house was "that dining room lighting fixture has GOT to GO". And just about one year later, I'm happy to report that guy is history!

And okay, by history I mean in a box in the garage waiting for the next Goodwill trip, but still. It's not dangling from the ceiling like the glittering gold eyesore it was, so I count it good as gone.

I've never been happier to use up the last of a gift card stash. Ready for picture-o-rama?

The old guy...

...with a spotlight in the bottom...

...and lovely black zip tie antennae.

Buh-Bye

And so we were left with a blank slate - well, a blank slate with a hole in it - and utter chaos happening in the adjoining living room (just keeping it real here, folks):

But on to slightly bigger and an enormous amount better!

It's on a dimmer, which makes it look like glowing candles.

And to save you a little scrolling:

I keep pausing to stare at it every time it catches my eye, and Nate's admitted he's been doing the same... Which means we keep lurking in doorways all googly-eyed as we peer at our new pride-n-joy.

Peeking from the kitchen.

And now of course the Ikea dining table with only three chairs and the builder-standard interfacing-like blinds are looking especially janky as the rest of the room comes together, but isn't a never-ending list of to-do's on of the joys of being a home owner?

I kind of love that. Endless possibilities.


P.S. Love our new light? We picked it up at Home Depot, and you can here.